Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace and a lot of fashion brands have made influences around the world. one brand at a time. but the biggest question here is have you ever witnessed most of their success comes from Africans and beyond, not just around their space. grab a cocktail, sit back and get to enjoy about how Ghanaians have also influenced these brands and fashion scene globally.

01. Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh was an African-American fashion designer and businessman. Abloh, an architect by background, founded his own luxury streetwear apparel line in 2012 under the moniker Pyrex Vision, which he then relaunched as Off-White, a Milan-based fashion firm in 2013. Louis Vuitton appointed Virgil Abloh as the artistic director of their menswear collection in early 2018, and he was granted additional creative duties across the LVMH company in 2021. LVMH is a French multinational holding company and conglomerate with headquarters in Paris, France, that specializes in luxury goods. Before breaking into the fashion industry, Virgil Abloh worked in Chicago street fashion. In 2009, he was offered an internship with the international fashion brand Fendi, where he collaborated with Kanye West. He was the first African-American to hold the position of artistic director for the menswear line for Louis Vuitton. After that, he established Off-White founded in the year 2013.

His impact also permeated the fields of art, fashion, and music. partnering with Mercedes-Benz, Vans, Nike, and Jacob & Co. transformed high-end streetwear. inspired a new generation of designers and entrepreneurs by bridging the borders between fashion, art, and automotive innovation. cleared the path for greater fashion diversity.

02. Ottawa Kwami

Ottawa Kwami, a Ghanaian international model, has walked the runways of some of the world’s greatest fashion brands since he began his career.. Ottawa Kwami is an emerging international model who has worked and continues to work with some of the world’s most famous fashion labels. He got signed by Ghanaian Men-Only Modelling Agency Yafan Models after they noticed him in 2017.

 Born Gabriel Agbolo Kwami Efoe, the young man studied computer programming before becoming a model. Ottawa made his unique global debut in the international fashion industry as a model for the late Virgil Abloh before becoming the first Black Creative Director to lead the men’s division at Louis Vuitton. Ottawa has subsequently worked and been featured in campaigns for Fendi Bottega Veneta, OFF-WHITE, Thom Browne, and Jil Sander, to mention a few.

Ottawa Kwami at FW22 Fendi menswear show.

03. Daily Paper

Daily Paper is an Amsterdam-based fashion and lifestyle brand established in 2012 by three childhood friends. The once blog established by Hussein, Jefferson and Abderrahmane shared a love for music, art, fashion, and culture, growing the brand into a household name.

Fueled by the rich heritage of African culture wrapped in contemporary designs, Daily Paper has truly become one of the fastest growing fashion brands out of Europe. With two collections a year focusing on both men and womenswear,

Along with partnering with multi-platinum musical label Dreamville, PLACES+FACES, Ajax Football Club, which features former Ajax players Mohammed Kudus and Steven Bergwijn, and other brands, Daily Paper provides classic designs for accessories, ready-to-wear, and a variety of capsules throughout the season.

Daily Paper and Dreamville.

04. Free the Youth

Envisioned by Jonathan Coffie, Kelly Foli, Winfred Mensah, and Richard Kweku Ormano and FREE THE YOUTH is a collective of young creatives determined to empower Ghanaian and all African youth to connect to art scenes around the world with Ghanaian inspired street-style fashion and culture.

The initial goal was to showcase Ghanaian street-style via social media. FREE THE YOUTH has now developed into a multi-branched company; the Fashion Brand, the Creative Agency and the NGO. All of these components are working towards the grand goal of promoting an art-based, youth-oriented movement for creative freedom and community development.

FREE THE YOUTH has partnered with big name brands like: GQ, Vogue, Tiktok, Guap, Meta, Nike, Spotify, Daily Paper and many more.

Free the Youth Merch

05. Tribe of God

Jude Dontoh, CEO and Founder of Tribe Of God. Born in Takoradi, Ghana, West Africa, he holds an engineering degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [KNUST]. Tribe of God was founded in 2013 [Year 11], and its mission is to instill God’s truths in the globe. It was born from a Christian household. ‘My parents are my influence, as are the late Virgil Abloh and Kanye West, since I’m expressing my life experiences; they also come from God or me wanting to get the word out to the world.’

Tribe of God is not considered as a streetwear but rather a Christian brand by virtue of its high-quality branding and manufacture. I design varsity jackets and merchandise for celebrities, athletes, entertainers, and more.

 EXCLUSIVELY: A Tribe of God wallet is yet to be released.

After landing a pop-up display in Lagos, Nigeria, his first creation, the ShowDem Camp merchandise, went on to become an enormous smash. Working with musicians like as BOJ, Odunsi The Engine, and many more, the Nigerian rap team ShowDem Camp has gained recognition for its alté music sounds. Additionally, they managed Tems at one time in her career.

With an immense talent as displayed, Tribe Of God is not just a street brand but definitely a Christian brand projecting the message of God not only to an individual but the globe at large.

Ottawa Kwami, Jude Dontoh, the late Virgil Abloh, and others are out there flying the Ghanaian flag high indicates that there are more Ghanaians than you may have thought. originating from a variety of industries or workspaces. Ghanaians never hesitate to take a stand and keep going.